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Almuñécar

Coat of arms of Almuñécar (Spain)

Population: ~ 25.000

Time difference to London - Time zone GMT/UTC: 1 hour (+/- changes due summertime/daylight saving)

Climate, weather: 16ºC - 20ºC (61ºF - 69ºF) from October to March, 24ºC - 26ºC (75ºF - 85ºF) from April to September. Dry most of the year with little rain in winter months, warn and sunny all spring and summer.

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Almuñécar, overlooking the crystal-clear and calm Mediterranean Sea, is considered one of the prettiest and most picturesque spots on the “Tropical Coast of Granada”. It is described as a mountain landscape rolling down to the sea where avocados, custard apples, mangoes, papayas, bananas and guavas grow. Study abroad in a Mediterranean paradise.

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Almuñécar (Spain) - Things to See:

• 16th Century Moorish Castle – Castillo de San Miguel
• Roman Aqueduct
• Botanical Gardens and Aviary – Parque Ornitologico Loro Sexi
• Archeological Museum – Phoenician artifacts

Baptized by the Arabs

The city was baptized by the Arab, Hins-al-Monacar “city surrounded by mountains”. This is a beautiful place where the mountains meet the deep, blue, crystalline, waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

The warmth of an old town...

The visitor will be impressed by the beauty of the old town, it is a reminder of the many past cultures and civilizations that once resided here: Bronze, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Christians. Each of these cultures has shaped the image of a warm and welcoming town. From the heart of the old town, to the streets that lead up to the top of the hill where the white terraces are dominated by the view of San Miguel’s castle.

A great variety of beaches and coves

Between the sea and the mountains, the municipality of Almuñécar offers visitors a great variety of beaches and coves spread along 20 kilometres of coast. Shallow water, ideal for children ; the opportunity to practise naturism at the bottom of a ravine in Cantarrijan, lively nights in Puerta del Mar or marine depths to go diving in La Herradura are some of the opportunities offered by this part of the Costa Tropical

Almuñécar has a long history

But Almuñécar also has a long history, going back to the year 800 BC., a date when it was founded by the Phoenicians as a trading colony.

From this period you can visit a necropolis and a salting works. In their Manaba Sexi Firman, the Romans left an aqueduct and some baths on the outskirts of the city and the Cueva de Siete Palacios. Under these Roman vaults, the Almuñécar Archaeological Museum has been established, where you can admire pieces found on nearby sites.

Cobbled streets and whitewashed façades

The strategic location of this place was appreciated by the Muslims, who provided its town centre with walls and a castle, that of San Miguel. In fact, the surrounding district preserves the irregular layout typical of this kind of medieval development. Cobbled streets and whitewashed façades are the distinctive features of this area, where the visitor will find courtyards full of flowers and unforgettable corners. On some of Almuñecar's beaches, old watchtowers, also from the Muslim period, await you. They also served for warding off attacks by Berbers and pirates. An example is the one that stands on the beach at Tesorillo.

More history ...

Almuñécar was not reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs until 1489. Important Spanish Renaissance architects and sculptors contributed to building the Church of La Encarnación, an example of a Christian place of worship. Designed by Juan de Herrera, Felipe II's architect, it has a tower which is the work of Diego de Siloé. Another Renaissance-style monument is the Pilar de la Calle Real. This is a group of sculptures made over an old Roman water channel.

To find out something more about Almuñeécar, it is worth visiting the City History Museum in the Castle of San Miguel, where you will find interesting collections. The Castle of La Herradura, ordered to be built by Carlos III, is another of the symbolic buildings of this city in the province of Granada.

Local cuisine

And, as for the county's cuisine, fish take a clear leading role in the local recipes."Arroz a banda" (a variety of paella), fried fish, skewered sardines, langoustines, hake, and fish and shellfish casserole are just some of the recommendations. Among meats, kid with garlic accompanied by potatoes has the greatest tradition. As well as the tropical fruits grown in this excellent climate, visitors should try "cazuela mohina" or "cazuela de San Juan". It is a dessert of Arab origin similar to marzipan which is eaten in small portions. The main ingredients are almonds, sugar, aniseed and pumpkin.

More information and interesting Web-Sites regarding Almuñécar:

► www.almunecar.info

Almuñécar Town Council. Discover Almuñecar, a historical town on the Tropical Coast of the Province of Granada.

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